Railroad track working machine

ABSTRACT

A track working machine having a unitized construction including a tamper carriage and a track lifting attachment with a truss constructed frame carrying jacks intermediate the ends of the frame. The track lifting attachment includes means for automatically moving the forward end of the truss frame in a lateral direction relative to the track wheels upon which it is supported so as to maintain the jacks in a vertically centered position over the track rails and thereby enable the machine to work relatively sharp curved sections of track without the jacks exerting side pull on the rails.

United States Patent 1 Anderson [4 1 May 15, 1973 [541 RAILROAD TRACK WORKING MACHINE 21 Appl. No.: 125,116

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1968 Fagan ..l04/l2 2/1965 Christoff ..104/7R 2,926,617 3/1960 Kershaw ..104/7 R 3,425,360 2/1969 Plasser et al... ..l04/8 3,556,010 1/1971 Plasser et al. ..l04/7 R Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Att0rney-W0lfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann [57] ABSTRACT A track working machine having a unitized construction including a tamper carriage and a track lifting attachment with a truss constructed frame carrying jacks intermediate the ends of the frame. The track lifting attachment includes means for automatically moving the forward end of the truss frame in a lateral direction relative to the track wheels upon which it is supported so as to maintain the jacks in a vertically centered position over the track rails and thereby enable the machine to work relatively sharp curved sections of track without the jacks exerting side pull on the rails.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SHEET 2 UP 5 AVWW/K PATH-41mm 5 ms PATENIE MAY 1 51973 sum 3 0F 5 2 w MM PAIENTED 51975 3, 732.827

sum 5 [IF 5 I RAILROAD TRACK WORKING MACHINE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to railroad track maintenance apparatus and more particularly concerns an improved assembly for correcting and leveling track grade.

Machines heretofore have been developed for continuously grading and leveling railroad tracks as the machine is moved along a length of track. Such machines generally have been quite long with track lifting jacks and ballast tamping work heads located. intermediate the ends of the machine. However, when such machines work relatively sharp curves in the track, the center line of the machine tends to make a cord with the curve while the track lifting jack is centered over the rail. The distance between the cord line and the center of the jack results'in a component of the lifting force being directed in a lateral direction, which tends to shift the track rails laterally out of alignment. Moreover, such lateral forces acting on the track, which are not present when the machine is on a straight section of the track, make it difficult to control accurate positioning of the track.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a track maintenance machine adapted to work relatively sharp curves without creating unwanted lateral forces on the rails.

A related object is to provide a track working machine as characterized above in which the track lifting jacks are automatically maintained in a centered position over the rails as the machine is working a curved track section so as to prevent undesired lateral pull on the rails.

Another object is to provide a track working machine of the above kind which has a unitized construction, with the track lifting attachment being readily removable from the cab and tamping section of the machine to permit the latter to be used independently of the lifting attachment.

Still another object is to provide a track working assembly of the character set forth which has an unusually rigid construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon references to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation ofa track working machine embodying the present invention with a portion of the machine broken away;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic top view of a machine embodying the present invention shown working a curved section of railroad track;

FIG. 2a is a side elevation view of the track lifting attachment shown in FIG. I disconnected from the tamper carriage and showing in phantom the light carriage and its extension tongues supported in their travel positions;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation ofa portion ofthe structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken in the plane of line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partially schematic side elevation showing another portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken in the plane ofline 6-6 in FIG. 5, but with the track lifting jacks raised and secured in their traveling position;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show partially schematic side elevation views similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the manner in which the cab and tamping mechanism may be separated from the track lifting structure.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the limit switch control mechanism for automatically centering the jacks of the track lifting attachment over the supporting rails.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the'contrary, I intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a track working assembly embodying the present invention and including a tamper carriage 10, a track lifting attachment 11, and a light carriage 12 all operating on a length of railroad track 14. The track 14 includes a pair of rails 15 mounted on individual cross-ties 17 placed in ballast 18.

The tamper carriage 10 is preferably of the on-track, self-propelled type, including a frame 20 supported on flanged track wheels 21 and carrying an operators cab 22 which in turn supports a plurality of vertically movable tamping workheads 24 each having vibratory tamping blades 25. Pairs of tamping workheads 24 in this case are carried by a cross head 26 supported in cantilever fashion from the front of the cab by beams 27 secured to structure 29 of the cab for vertical movement by roller brackets 28. The roller brackets 28 may be vertically moved on the cab structure 29, thus enabling the tamping blades 25 to be selectively brought into contact with the ballast 18. Those familiar with the art will understand that tamping involves placing and compacting the articles making up'the ballast 18 under the ties 17 while the rails 15 are lifted so that the track is supported at the proper elevation.

In keeping with the invention, the track lifting attachment 11 is attached forwardly of the tamping carriage 22 and has a rigid, light weight, truss constructed frame 40 including substantially horizontal base and top members 41, 42, respectively, interconnected by diagonal truss members, 44a. One end of the truss frame 40 is supported by track wheels 45 and the forward end is carried by a truck 46 having two pairs of track wheels 48.

In order to lift the track rails 15, the lifting attachment 11 has a pair of hydraulically actuated jacks 50 located intermediate the ends of the attachment 11 and directly over the rails 15. Each jack 50 is secured to the top truss frame member 42 and includes a beam 51 in the form of a pair of spaced plates with rail engaging clamps 52 rotatably disposed at the lower end thereof. The jack beams 51 are interconnected by members 54, as shown in FIG. 6, so that the jacks tend to act in unison. In order to raise and lower the jack beams 51, a hydraulic cylinder 55 is disposed at the top of each beam. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 56 within each beam 51 are provided for actuating the rail engaging claims 52. The jack beams 51 are formed to define an opening 58 through which the lower truss member 41 is positioned so as to permit relative vertical movement of the jack beam 51 relative to the truss member 41. Rollers 59 are secured at the lower end of thejack beams 51 to permit the jacks to readily ride along the rail when the lifting attachment is moved.

During travel of the lifting attachment 11, the jack beams 51 are raised and secured by hooks 60 depending from the outer casing of the cylinders 55, as shown in FIG. 6, thus enabling hydraulic pressure to the cylindens to be disconnected if desired. When the jacks are to be used, the hooks are disengaged from the beams 51 by raising the handle 61 and securing it in its work position, shown in phantom in FIG. 6.

Operation of the jacks 50 may be controlled by known means so as to position the track to a desired elevation and secure it in that position while the ballast is tamped. In the illustrated embodiment, track grading and leveling is controlled from a reference line in the form of a light beam 65 extending above each rail from an ungraded point forwardly of and spaced from the tamping carriage to a previously graded point at the rear of the tamping carriage. The light beam 65 is generated from lights 66 mounted above each rail on the light carriage 12 and aimed at light responsive sensors 68 carried at the rear of the tamper carriage 10 on support rods 69 that each have a roller 70 at their lower end riding on a respective rail. Cooperating with the lights 66 and the sensors 68 are slotted masks 71 each carried by a vertical support rod 72 secured to one of the jacks by a bracket 74. The mask support rods 72 similarly each have a follower roller 75 at their lower end to facilitate movement of the rod 72 along the track as the machine is moved. As is known in the art, the beam of light 65 from the lights 66 is intercepted by the slotted mask 71 which, in turn, projects a straight line 65a of light to the sensor 68. This latter light beam 65a is picked up by the sensor 68 which drives a meter indicating the condition of the track. The track may thereby be adjusted by the jacks 50 to a desired grade.

The light carriage 12 in this case likewise is mounted on track wheels 76 and is attached to the forward end of the track lifting device by a tie rod 78 having one end secured to the light carriage and the other end attached to a hitch 79 on the truck 46. It will be understood that the light carriage may be extended a greater distance in front of the lifting device by interposing appropriate extension members between the light carriage 12 and the lifting device 11. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of extension tongues 80 are shown in phantom in FIG. 2a in their stored position on the truss frame of the lifting mechanism. The tongues 80 may be attached in series between the hitch 79 and tie rod 78, and each tongue has flange rollers 81 at one end thereof for movable support of the tongue when positioned on the track. To facilitate storage of the tongues 80 when they are not in use, the lower truss frame member 41 of the lifting attachment 1 1 has its forward end inclined slightly above the horizontal, as shown in FIG. 1. In order to transport the light carriage 12 when the track maintenance apparatus is not being used, the truck 46 has forwardly extending rods 82 formed with V-shaped indents 84 wherein the rear axle of the light carriage may be supported in an elevated position. Tie rods 85 interposed between vertical members of the light carriage l2 and a second arm 86 on the truck 46 secure the light can'iage in an elevated position, as shown in phantom FIG. 2a.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for maintaining the track lifting jacks in a vertical position over the rails so as to prevent the jacks from pulling the rails laterally when the lifting attachment is working a curved track section. To this end, means are provided for selectively moving the forward end of the track lifting frame laterally so as to prevent any side thrust to be exerted on the rails by the jack clamps. In the illustrated embodiment, the forward end of the lifting truss frame is provided with a plate 88 that engages an upstanding lug 89 (FIG. 4) of a pulley plate 90 for relative rotational movement. The underside of the plate 88 preferably is formed with a cylindrical recess which receives the lug 89, and an appropriate ball bushing may be interposed between the upper end of the lug 89, and the receiving recess to facilitate relative rotational movement. The underside of the pulley plate 90 in turn is adapted for lateral movement on the truck 46. To facilitate such relative lateral movement, a dual round way bearing 91 is provided centrally between the pulley plate 90 and the top of the truck 46. The bearing 91, best shown in FIG. 3, includes a plate 92 formed with a V-shaped laterally disposed groove 94 mounted on the underside of the plate 92. Within each leg of the V groove 94 is contained an endless chain 95 surrounding an elongated round way bearing member 96. The lower side of each chain 95 cooperates with a cylindrical bearing way 98 which extends laterally across the width of the truck 46. To guide lateral movement of the pulley plate 90, a pair of guideways 99 are supported between upstanding brackets 100 mounted upon the truck 46, and the pulley plate 90 has depending brackets 101 with appropriate bushings which ride on the guideways 99 (FIG. 3 and 4). To protect the guideways 99 from dirt and other foreign matter, they may be enclosed in bellows 102 which collapse in accordian fashion as the pulley plate 90 is traversed in either direction.

In order to laterally move the pulley plate 90 and forward end of the truss frame 40, an electric motor 105 is mounted in depending fashion from the pulley plate 90. The motor 105 operates through an appropriate speed reducer 106 to drive a drive sprocket 108. A chain 109 extending across the width of the truck 46 cooperates with the drive sprocket 108 and two idle sprockets 110, 111. The chain 109 in this case is suspended between upstanding brackets 112 mounted on the truck 46, each end of the chain 109 having a fastening rod 1 14 which is secured to the bracket by jam nuts 1 15. It will be seen that operation of the motor 105 will cause the drive sprocket 108 to move along the chain 109, thus moving the pulley plate 90 and truss frame end laterally along the bearing way 98.

In carrying out the invention, provision is made for automatically centering the jacks 50 over the rails dur ing jacking. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a pair of limit switches 118, 119 with sensing arms 118a, 119a are mounted on a cross member 41 secured between the lower truss members 41 adjacent the jack beams 51. The limit switch arms 118a, 119a cooperate with respective cams 120, 121, mounted on a common shaft 123 to which a follower arm 122 is connected. The follower arm 122 in this case bears against the jack beam 51 through a roller 122a so as to sense lateral movement of the truss frame relative to the jack beam Since the jacks 50 hang in depending fashion from the top truss members 42 and are not se cured to the lower truss members 41, the jacks may experience limited movement when the lower ends thereof are subjected to lateral forces. Such forces occur when the jacks are in engagement with the track rails while the machine is progressing into a relatively sharp curve of the track since the frame tends to make a chord with the curve section. The resulting lateral movement of the lower jack ends relative to the frame is sensed by the follow arm 122 and transmitted into rotary movement of the cams so as to activate a respective one of the-limit switches. To maintain the follower arm 122 in firm engagement with the jack beam 511, a cam rod 129 mounted on the shaft 123 is connected to the truss frame member 41 through a tension spring 129a. The tension'spring 129a pulls the rod 129 in a direction which tends to rotate the shaft 123 clockwise, as shown in FIG. 9, and urge the arm 122 against the beam 51. The limit switch arms 118a, 11% are also appropriately biased into engagement with the respective arms. 120, 121. Thus, if the lower ends of the jacks 50 are moved laterally relative to the frame 40 when the machine is working a curved track section, one of the limit switches 118,119 will be activated by its respective cams 120,121 through movement of the follower arm 110 thereby energizing the drive motor 105 to move the end of the truss frame 40 laterally until the jacks are again centered vertically over the rails so that the cam returns the switch to its off position. When a curved section in the track moves the truss frame in the opposite direction, the opposite limit switch is activated to move the frame in the opposite direction relative to the jack ends.

In addition to the automatic jack centering control activated by the limit switches 118, 119, manual control switches also preferably are provided to permit selective lateral movement of the truss frame. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, separate manual control switches may be provided for selective movement of the truss frame in each direction by the operator, and a third control switch may be operated for activating the automatic control. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, in order to limit overtravel of the truss frame in the lateral direction, actuators 12A for appropriate limit switches are provided at predetermined positions on opposite sides of the truck 46. When the pulley plate 90 reaches that position of maximum travel, it will engage the respective limit switch 124 to deenergize the motor 105.

It will be further appreciated that the track working assembly of the present invention has a unitized con struction with the track lifting attachment 11 being readily removable from the tamper carriage to permit the latter to be used independently of the lifting attachment. The lifting attachment 1 1 in this case may be detached from the tamper carriage 10 by first removing a hitch pin 125 (FIG. 5). To permit movement of the lifting attachment 11 away from the carriage 10, the end diagonal truss members 44a of the attachment are detachable at their lower ends by removal of pins 126 and retaining screws 128 so that the truss members 44a may be swung upwardly over the damper workheads 24, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. During non-use of the track lifting attachment, the jacks may be secured in their raised position by the hooks 60 shown in FIG. 6 as previously discussed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A railroad track working machine comprising a tamper carriage including at least one tamping workhead, a track lifting attachment secured at one end to said tamper carriage and including a frame, jacks mounted on said frame intermediate the ends thereof 5 jacks in vertically centered positions over the rails being lifted by said jacks while said machine works straight and curved sections of track so that said jacks do not exert substantial side pull on said rails.

2. The track working machine of claim 1 in which said track lifting attachment includes a truck adapted for movement along said track and supporting one end of said lifting frame, bearing means interposed between said truck and said one frame end for supporting said frame end for lateral movement relative to said truck, said jack centering means including a drive motor for laterally moving said one frame end relative to said truck, and means for automatically controlling the operation of said drive motor to continuously maintain said jacks in substantially vertical centered relation over said track rails.

3. The track working machine of claim 2 in which said bearing means is a dual round way bearing including a pulley plate disposed on the underside of said movable truss end, said pulley plate being formed with a V-shaped lateral groove, an endless chain surrounding a round way bearing member disposed within each leg of said V-shaped groove, and a bearing way on said truck upon which the lower portions of said endless chains cooperate during movement of said frame end relative to said truck.

4. The track working machine of claim 3 including drive means for laterally moving said pulley plate and frame end relative to said truck, and guide means mounted on said truck for guiding said lateral movement of said pulley plate and frame end.

5. A track working machine of claim 4 in which said drive means includes a drive chain suspended laterally over said truck, a drive sprocket cooperating with said chain, and a drive motor supported by said pulley plate and operatively connected to said sprocket, said motor being selectively operable to drive said sprocket along said chain to move said motor, pulley plate, and frame end relative to said truck.

6. The track working machine of claim 2 in which said control means includes a pair of limit switches, cam means cooperating with one of said jacks for sensing movement of said jack relative to said rails, said cam means being adapted to actuate one'of said limit switches when said jacks are moved laterally in one direction relative to said rails thereby energizing said drive motor to return said jacks to a vertically centered position over said rails, and said cam means being adapted to actuate the other of said limit switches when said jacks are moved in the opposite lateral direction relative to said rails thereby energizing said drive motor to return said jacks to a vertically centered position over said rails.

7. The track working machine of claim 6 in which limit switch means on said truck limit maximum lateral movement of said frame end in each direction relative to said truck.

8. The track working machine of claim 1 in which said track lifting attachment frame has a truss construction including substantially horizontal top and bottom members interconnected by diagonal truss members, said track lifting attachment being detachably secured to said tamper carriage, and said tamping workheads being suspended in cantilever fashion by said tamper carriage so as to be positioned adjacent said jacks when said track lifting attachment is secured to said tamper carriage.

9. The track working machine of claim 8 in which said sensing means includes a light source mounted on a carriage that is selectively attachable to the end of said track lifting attachment opposite'the end to which the tamping carriage is attached, light masks mounted in determined relation to said jacks for movement along on said track rails with said lifting attachment, a light sensing means mounted in determined relation to said tamper carriage for movement along said track with said tamper carriage, extension tongues adapted to be selectively interposed between said light source caniage and the end of said track lifting attachment to extend the distance therebetween, means on said lower substantially horizontal truss frame member for supporting extension said tongues when not in use, and means at said end of the track lifting attachment opposite the tamper carriage for supporting said light source carriage in a travel position when not in use.

10. The tractor working machine of claim 8 in which said jacks are secured in depending relation from said top truss members, and said diagonal truss members at the tamper carriage securing end of said lifting attachment are selectively disengageable from at least one of said horizontal truss members. 

1. A railroad track working machine comprising a tamper carriage including at least one tamping workhead, a track lifting attachment secured at one end to said tamper carriage and including a frame, jacks mounted on said frame intermediate the ends thereof and in vertical relation to said tracks for selectively engaging and lifting said track rails, means on said machine for sensing the level of said tracks when raised by said jacks, and means for maintaining said track lifting jacks in vertically centered positions over the rails being lifted by said jacks while said machine works straight and curved sections of track so that said jacks do not exert substantial side pull on said rails.
 2. The track working machine of claim 1 in which said track lifting attachment includes a truck adapted for movement along said track and supporting one end of said lifting frame, bearing means interposed between said truck and said one frame end for supporting said frame end for lateral movement relative to said truck, said jack centering means including a drive motor for laterally moving said one frame end relative to said truck, and means for automatically controlling the operation of said drive motor to continuously maintain said jacks in substantially vertical centered relation over said track rails.
 3. The track working machine of claim 2 in which said bearing means is a dual round way bearing including a pulley plate disposed on the underside of said movable truss end, said pulley plate being formed with a V-shaped lateral groove, an endless chain surrounding a round way bearing member disposed within each leg of said V-shaped groove, and a bearing way on said truck upon which the lower portions of said endless chains cooperate during movemenT of said frame end relative to said truck.
 4. The track working machine of claim 3 including drive means for laterally moving said pulley plate and frame end relative to said truck, and guide means mounted on said truck for guiding said lateral movement of said pulley plate and frame end.
 5. A track working machine of claim 4 in which said drive means includes a drive chain suspended laterally over said truck, a drive sprocket cooperating with said chain, and a drive motor supported by said pulley plate and operatively connected to said sprocket, said motor being selectively operable to drive said sprocket along said chain to move said motor, pulley plate, and frame end relative to said truck.
 6. The track working machine of claim 2 in which said control means includes a pair of limit switches, cam means cooperating with one of said jacks for sensing movement of said jack relative to said rails, said cam means being adapted to actuate one of said limit switches when said jacks are moved laterally in one direction relative to said rails thereby energizing said drive motor to return said jacks to a vertically centered position over said rails, and said cam means being adapted to actuate the other of said limit switches when said jacks are moved in the opposite lateral direction relative to said rails thereby energizing said drive motor to return said jacks to a vertically centered position over said rails.
 7. The track working machine of claim 6 in which limit switch means on said truck limit maximum lateral movement of said frame end in each direction relative to said truck.
 8. The track working machine of claim 1 in which said track lifting attachment frame has a truss construction including substantially horizontal top and bottom members interconnected by diagonal truss members, said track lifting attachment being detachably secured to said tamper carriage, and said tamping workheads being suspended in cantilever fashion by said tamper carriage so as to be positioned adjacent said jacks when said track lifting attachment is secured to said tamper carriage.
 9. The track working machine of claim 8 in which said sensing means includes a light source mounted on a carriage that is selectively attachable to the end of said track lifting attachment opposite the end to which the tamping carriage is attached, light masks mounted in determined relation to said jacks for movement along on said track rails with said lifting attachment, a light sensing means mounted in determined relation to said tamper carriage for movement along said track with said tamper carriage, extension tongues adapted to be selectively interposed between said light source carriage and the end of said track lifting attachment to extend the distance therebetween, means on said lower substantially horizontal truss frame member for supporting extension said tongues when not in use, and means at said end of the track lifting attachment opposite the tamper carriage for supporting said light source carriage in a travel position when not in use.
 10. The tractor working machine of claim 8 in which said jacks are secured in depending relation from said top truss members, and said diagonal truss members at the tamper carriage securing end of said lifting attachment are selectively disengageable from at least one of said horizontal truss members. 